Hoop dreams live

Nestled in the heart of Main South, Crystal Park had a reputation as a haven for drug use and violence.

But neighborhood groups, city officials and police are hoping an initiative to revamp the park will allow residents to reclaim it as an area where people can walk safely and children can play.

The project, put together by several groups invested in the park’s restoration, was unveiled yesterday by some of those involved, including teenagers, who enjoyed the fruits of their labor by bouncing a basketball on the freshly painted green asphalt of the basketball court.

The teenagers — wearing Worcester Police Gang Camp shirts — worked hard during the past weeks revamping the court and the park.

“It was great timing to come into this park where we’ve had some problems,” said Gang Unit Sgt. Stephen L. Roche. “We’ve had some problems with the neighborhood. Hopefully we learn from this and can do this to other neighborhoods.”

As members of the Police Department’s Gang Unit spoke about the Crystal Park cleanup, the teenagers were greeted by a surprise guest, Gov. Deval L. Patrick. He spoke to them and signed shirts and one teenager’s red and green Adidas high-top sneaker.

“It looks fabulous,” Mr. Patrick said, while shaking the hands of several teenagers.

The Gang Unit’s camp, which took place during the past three weeks and involved 300 city youths, targets youngsters at risk for gang involvement and who are chosen after several community groups recommend them for the program.

Participants — ranging in age from 8 to 16 — are taken to Worcester State College, where they play sports, eat lunch and take field trips. Gang Unit members also talk to them about gangs and the destructive life gang members lead — a life of drugs, violence and possible murder. Their participation is staggered over three weeks, with various age groups coming in different weeks.

While talking with people from the neighborhood and District 4 Councilor Barbara G. Haller, the gang unit learned about the need to revamp Crystal Park and the basketball court. Working with the city, Ms. Haller and other community organizers received money to repair and paint the court. Gang camp members also picked up trash and cleaned the park as part of the community project.

“We have a larger effort going to reclaim this park. We felt we were well on our way to losing the park this summer,” Ms. Haller said. “There’s a lot of violence going on in here. We lost the lights so we pulled a team of people together and had a meeting and said what can we do to save the park.”

The faded gray basketball court was repainted and the hoops fixed, and the city patched up holes and divots in the pavement.

With the cleanup and continued planned restoration projects, Ms. Haller believes the neighborhood has reclaimed the beautiful park, which is across the street from Clark University.

The Police Athletic League basketball program will move to the park this summer to continue the positive influence in the area, something Police Chief Gary J. Gemme believes can help make the park more vibrant.

“I think that the more people investing in the area, the better it is for the park to present a positive option for young people,” Chief Gemme said.

Being positive and taking positive steps in life is what the Gang Unit’s camp is all about.

Jaquale Welds, 13, said Gang Unit members teach campers about gangs and how they recruit and the ramifications of being involved in gang life.

“They talk about gang life and what can happen and taking the wrong road,” he said. Jaquale said he is looking forward to getting a college education and doing something with his life.

For 12-year-old Tariq Massenburg, the officers are a positive influence.

“There is somebody to look up to,” he said of the officers, who were shooting hoops and playing with the youths yesterday.

Sgt. Roche believes the restoration will keep bad influences out of the park.

“This is exactly what we’re looking for,” he said. “We’re looking to come out into neighborhoods like this with the kids, work with the people and give them back their park. We’ve accomplished that so far.”

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